From beginning to end, the Wayland Baptist baseball team went through a series of ups and downs in 2013, getting off to a slow start before making improvements and putting together a respectable season. The Pioneers even put themselves in position to compete for a conference championship.

In their typical up-and-down fashion, the season ended last week at the Sooner Athletic Conference Tournament in Oklahoma City after the Pioneers defeated fifth-ranked and longtime rival Lubbock Christian University. Because of conference tie-breakers, WBU was knocked out of the tournament despite the satisfying season-ending win over the Chaparrals.

The ups and downs started back in February when Wayland took three of four games in its season-opening series against the University of the Southwest. After that the Pioneers began to struggle, winning just once in their next 15 games. Part of the slump was due to injuries and having new personnel on the field, but the Pioneers chose not to make excuses and instead focus on turning their season around.

At the midway point of the campaign the team traveled to Arizona to compete in the Tucson Invitational. Wayland’s offense came alive during the spring break tournament as the Pioneers scored at least eight runs in four games and won four of six games on the week.

In their first conference series after spring break, the Pioneers swept Mid-America Christian, their first sweep since 2011. Wayland then took a game from No. 14 Oklahoma Baptist, nearly splitting the series before a walk-off home run gave the Bison the edge. After taking two of three from St. Gregory’s, WBU couldn’t find a win against No. 15 Rogers State, even though the Pioneers were close in two games, dropping one on a Hillcat walk-off single.

Having been the victims of a pair of walk-offs, the Pioneers decided to flip the switch the next week, thanks in large part to sophomore outfielder Colton Palmer. The Lubbock native provided the heroics against Eastern New Mexico University, giving the Pioneers an 8-7 victory, then again against No. 1 Oklahoma City University when his two-run single with two outs capped an amazing 10-run comeback in the final inning of the third game of the series.

After surrendering a late lead in the first game of the final series of the season against No. 5 LCU, Wayland won game two before falling in a slugfest in game three. Tom Bailey, the Pioneers’ ace, kept the Chaps from crossing the plate for six strong innings in the final game of the series before the Chaps finally figured out the junior pitcher, scoring 10 runs in the final inning to take the game and the series.

Despite dropping the previous three series, Wayland went into the SAC Tournament with confidence, and, according to head coach Brad Bass, with expectations of winning it all.

“I told almost anyone that would listen that we were going to win it and I really believed that,” Bass said. “We were right there. If the ball would have just gotten past [OBU’s] pitcher, then we would be playing for a conference championship, and that’s a big deal.”

The Pioneers’ skipper was referring to a tournament-opening game against OBU when Mark Davis’ hard-hit ball in the bottom of the ninth with the tying run at third base, hit the Bison pitcher in the leg, preventing a Wayland runner from advancing.

Wayland’s hopes were still alive, however, as Bailey got his revenge from an earlier loss against LCU, beating the Chaps, 4-1, in their final match as members of the SAC. WBU’s hopes then rested with St. Gregory’s University, which took the field against OBU. Wayland needed the Cavaliers to win, but the Bison prevailed, knocking Wayland out of tournament contention.

“I’m really proud of our guys,” Bass said. “If someone would have seen our team in February and I said that they would have a chance to win the conference, there’s no way they would believe that.”

To put a final wrap on the season, the team held an awards luncheon in which several members of the team were recognized. Senior Johnny Hendrixson took home the most brass, while fellow senior Josh Chinni and juniors Tyler Doolittle and Bailey also were recognized.

Hendrixson, who led the team in average, hits, doubles, triples, slugging percentage, walks, on-base percentage, RBIs and runs scored, was recognized for making All-SAC first team and was named the team’s MVP and batting champion. Hendrixson also was given the Players’ Choice Award that is voted on by the members of the team.

Chinni was recognized for making All-SAC second team and Bailey was named the Pioneers’ Pitcher of the Year. Finally, Doolittle — who played catcher, started games on the mound and came in for relief, all while playing most of the season injured — was given the Coaches’ Award.

Despite improving from 2012’s 16-38 season to 20-35, the Pioneers are looking to make greater strides next season.

“We need to start where we left off this year, starting day one in the fall,” Bass told his team. “This was the second year of our three-year plan. We want to be back in the polls where we belong, so get ready.”